in general i think we undervalue the ability of pre-literate humans to keep memories alive for truly inconceivable stretches of time.. especially when they are really important, like when entire cities tear themselves apart with anarchy and no doubt every known disease as a result.. the drama of it can't be overstated on the minds of the people who lived it.. they had only recently been kicked out of Eden, which was also very real in their minds.. those people knew all the Gods had turned their backs on them, because they lived the first real large scale human suffering..
two things are certain: the Chinese people will suffer, and there will be many scapegoats found within the government - people suspected of collaborating with Western spies, for example - to make examples of so that Xi is not at fault..